Nicolò Zaniolo: The injury is more serious than expected

There are some discouraging updates on Nicolò Zaniolo’s condition. In an official statement, Udinese announced that the player, born in 1999, suffered a hamstring injury in his right thigh during training with the Italian national team. Zaniolo has already begun his rehabilitation in Udine and, according to the Friuli-based club, is expected to be available again in three or four weeks.

The Udinese player had left the Italian national team’s training camp in recent days due to a muscle issue that had prevented him from contributing to Roberto Mancini’s squad during this international break. In the last few hours, the definitive diagnosis was confirmed: the possibility of a simpler muscle strain—which would have allowed for a quicker recovery—has been ruled out.

The results of the tests have therefore confirmed that the injury sustained while with the national team is more serious than initially hoped. This setback will force the player, now in his second year at Udinese, to postpone his return to the Azzurri once again, just as it seemed he had re-established himself in the national team’s rotation.

For Zaniolo, the chance to make his 20th appearance in an Italy jersey is now out of reach—at least for the time being. His tally remains at 19 appearances, with his last one dating back to March 24, 2024, when the Azzurri defeated Ecuador 2-0 in a friendly in Harrison, New Jersey (United States).

The goal now is to make a full recovery from the injury and return to action safely. Udinese’s medical staff will monitor the player’s progress week by week, while Roberto Mancini will have to wait to welcome him back for one of the upcoming international matches.